Dam that joint was good…read more For the past couple weeks I've been planning a team gathering for the company I help Manage up in Austin, TX and it finally happened! We stayed at the @hyattplace in Lake Travis/Four Points and chose @bestdambbqjoint to take our group for a celebratory lunch in Texas Hill Country. This joint is the real deal, folks! Nestled on the sprawling oasis that is @planetrockvodka on Lake Travis, Best Dam BBQ is serving up some of the best smokey Texas goodness I've ever had. On top of that, you can enjoy vodka distilled on the property by @planetrockvodka From top to bottom, everything was remarkable, and for good reason. Scott, the property/business owner and Pit-master, could not have been cooler and is absolutely hands-on with his product. His attention and love for what he does most certainly came out in the food! It doesn't hurt that the truck staff could not have been any sweeter. Our group enjoyed a little of everything. Sliced Brisket Sandwiches, Rib Combos, Texas Twinkies, Brisket Quesadillas, Loaded Texas Potatoes, and on and on. The food was truly awesome. But what everyone seem to enjoy the most was just a setting. They was a Calf for the kids to pet, chickens to chance, dogs to play with. Along with swings, a playground, darts, outdoor TVs, and on and on. Just such an awesome place to be. This was a very special visit for our group and I personally was not ready to be so blown away. We could not have picked a better hotel or a more delicious place for lunch. Feeling very grateful and full today. Life is good (Pssst, Scott, I'll see you real soon!)

Cute little spot. Came on a Sunday and there were a few people. Kid friendly with little…read moreplayground, roaming chickens and fenced in baby bull (born 2021). There's an outdoor bar and indoor bar. I can see the parking lot getting pretty full easily. The drinks are okay. It's a little pricey and but very nice atmosphere. I would definitely come back.

Zharece was our server. We had a large party and she was on it! Didn't miss a beat. She had the…read moreservice, the personality and the hair!!

The service was great, our server actually had some really good recommendations on what to get so…read morewe don't have too much food. The sides that comes in the Salt lick plates are really good, the coleslaw, the potato and beans. We ordered the Bison rib & Brisket plate combo and the pulled pork. I thought brisket and the bison rib were more on the drier side. The pulled pork was more moist. We also ordered a side of sweet potato and that basket was big. Overall I would go back but I do wish the brisket was more moist. The inside is huge and very Texan.

The best BBQ in Central Texas! Quick service at the counter and a very clean, well organized and…read morebeautiful new building (the old one was lost in a fire). The outside dining areas are kept clean and well maintained and there's a play area for the kids also. They are popular, so arrive early for the best selection of menu options, including some weekly/monthly specials. The Helberg's and the staff are great people and I love supporting a family business.

I would recommend this only for special occasions as the price is $$$$$$$$ That being said, my…read morehusband and I each had a beef and a pork rib. I don't know which was more delish. The beef rib was huge. It was well cooked, seasoned well, and without a heavy overpowering smoke taste and smell. The meat was tender and juicy. The pork rib meat was also perfectly cooked, the seasoning was one of the best mix of savory I had in a while. Instead of a special restaurant dinner for anniversary we thought we would eat a couple ribs. The adage @you get what you pay for" holds up well here. But the bill was exurban and this was before the current high price of meat & everything else. My husband said that I would not want to know what he paid which means over $100. I hope they can hang on until their supplies are more affordable. The cost will I am sure be a disadvantage. What we paid would have been or useful in filling my pantry. That being said, it was one of the most enjoyable meals we've brought home. If we could afford it we would definitely be our go-to place. We are looking forward to iur anniversary in a couple months when we won't feel guilty about paying a big price for a meal. I will go for flavor over fancy every time and Helberg fits that shoe.

Prolly the best BBQ I've ever had in Texas. Heck, the best BBQ I've ever had anywhere…read more Worth the waiting in line on a hot and steamy summer afternoon, and forever grateful they didn't run out of brisket before we were able to get some. The staff were personable, considering his busy they were. So helpful and engaged with customers. That alone would bring you back. But the smoked meats are hard to beat! I mean, brisket is the movie star, but the sausage and pulled pork weren't to shabby either. Everyone should go here at least 1 time. Then you'll always know how to tell a good BBQ.

I have had good BBQ brisket before, at least so I thought, until I had Franklin Barbecue. This was…read morethe best barbecue brisket and pork ribs I've ever had. We tried the brisket, the pork ribs and house sausage. The brisket and ribs were fall apart tender and impossibly moist. The moistness was what struck me as different and more delicious compared to other barbecued meats I've had. They did keep the meat wrapped in foil until presented to the customer, which must help. The brisket is only seasoned with salt and pepper so the flavor of the meat and smoke comes through. The ribs are also finished lightly with bbq sauce, still preserving the meat flavor. They do offer four different barbecue sauces that are quite delicious. Bread and pickles are free, as are ice and water. Line wait data point: Went on a Tuesday (they are closed on Mondays) got there at 12:20 PM and it took just 80 minutes to get through the line. Left just after 2pm and there was no line - and few if any meats left.

If you're near the Austin airport, Henry's BBQ on Research Road is worth the stop. No-frills spot…read morewith legit Texas BBQ. The brisket was juicy with a great smoke ring and bark, and the ribs were tender with a rich, sticky sauce. The mac & cheese and potato salad were solid and tasted homemade. They also give you a few sauces on the side, which is a nice touch. Simple setup, but the food delivers. I'd definitely come back.

TLDR: Henry's Barbecue is a bare-bones, budget stop by the airport; the food is fine, so it's only…read moreworth it out of convenience. Overview: Located near the airport, Henry's Barbecue is as no-frills as they come: a plain, tile-floored room with basic tables, a small ordering table up front, and minimal amenities. Parking is limited to a small lot. Ordering is straightforward, and during a noon visit, the food took about ten minutes to come out from the back. Food: Prices are the main appeal. With brisket at $29/lb, ribs at $24/lb, sausage at $18/lb, and sides/banana pudding at $3 each, Henry's is in the Rudy's/True Texas BBQ price tier. Unfortunately, the food itself is alright at best. The meats arrived steaming hot, which suggested holding or a too-hot reheat. The brisket tasted beefy but under-seasoned, with a shy bark and more chew than moist slices should have. The ribs were tender and lightly glazed yet short on smoke and salt, landing bland rather than juicy. The regular sausage was moist but a bit tough and carried an off note that distracted from the snap. The sides were steadier. The mac and cheese is a creamy, stovetop style: rich and comforting but one-note. The potato salad was the clear winner: creamy with a subtle sweetness and tang that balanced the plate. The banana pudding tasted like it was made from a mix, light on real banana flavor with firm wafers. The value is undeniable at these prices, but when chains at similar cost often execute cleaner, the math gets tougher. Final Thoughts: Henry's works as a quick, inexpensive plate near the airport when convenience is the priority. If you're after well-seasoned, smoke-forward Central Texas barbecue, there are better options at the same price point. A serviceable stop, but not a recommendation.

There is nothing I enjoy more than wandering into a small town and finding a fantastic restaurant!…read more Trust me, you now have another reason to drive to Johnson City. Yes, they have antique stores, a mortor cycle museum, the annual Rodeo, and LBJ's boyhood home. But they have some very interesting restaurants as well. Let me tell you about Proof of Cooper. My wife and I were on one of my adventures, picking up some items an hour from home. It's hot, late afternoon and we wanted a cocktail and good food. We walked into Proof of Cooper to look at the menu, we were greeted by lovely smells of cooking coming from the kitchen. This was the place for us. We ordered an Old Fashion and a Peach Fashioned. My Old Fashion was perfect! Great balance of whisky and sweetness. My wife really enjoyed her Peach fashioned. The menu has a lot of variety, Texas favorites for sure. It was hard to choose. We were told they did their BBQ out back, this restaurant does not look like your typical BBQ place. The bar is home town but the dining room is Hunting club rustic. To order, I had the smoked turkey club on Texas toast with green beans, my wife had the BBQ sample plate with Mac and cheese & pit master beans. Her meat choices were brisket, pulled pork and spare ribs. My sandwich was great! The bread was toasted just right, the turkey has a nice smoky flavor with ham and bacon. Loved the green beans. Then I stole some of the pit master beans off my wife's plate. Oh some dam good. And so was the Mac and cheese. Brisket and pulled pork were tender, flavorful and just right, on par with some of the best bbq places I have eaten at here in Texas. Spare ribs were too firm for my wife but I enjoyed them. The staff was wonderful. Very helpful, nice and fun to work with. This is a family owned restaurant and the staff that we met were all born and raised here. We look forward to coming back to Johnson City and visiting Proof of Cooper again. If just to try the delicious looking desserts we had no room for, see our photos.

Let me first say I wish this establishment well, and hope they have success in their endeavors…read more I was in centex to visit daughter, and suggested a bbq tour of the small towns west of Aus. We arrived at P&C mid afternoon on a Monday. We were touring this and other towns, so only ordered the pulled pork sandwich, side of mac n cheese and side of mashed potatoes w gravy between the two of us. And some extra bbq sauce on the side. The pulled pork sandw comes premade with what looks to be homemade pickles, smoked pulled pork, coleslaw, & bbq sauce. The presentation is fairly impressive. Unfortunately, the taste did not measure up. We had bites of the sandwich as a whole, and also tasted the individual ingred by themself to get a feel for what contributed to the overall. The pulled pork was hit/miss. Some of it was generously smoked & that smokiness came through. Other bites of it the smoked flavor was not prominent. Mac n Cheese - solid. By far the best thing we tried. Super cheesy, flavorful. Nice work! Coleslaw - substandard. I'd say the C range. Pickles on the sandwich - they were thicker and appeared homemade. They didn't seem like they had been left to sit long enough on the shelf for the pickling to soak in. In appearance they were still very close to cucumbers instead of pickled cucumbers. Flavor wise they didn't taste like cukes, but nor did they add a dill-ish or sweet pickle flavor of substance. (Can see the pickles in attached pic, can see the color and texture doesn't look significantly pickled.) Sauce - extremely little flavor. The consistency was not watery, but you had to close your eyes and concentrate to taste what little flavor there was - as though it was watered down immensely. Sauce gets a D. Mashed potatoes & gravy. They served the gravy on the side. The potatoes themselves were good - a little buttery and therefore enjoyable. The consistency of the gravy was mealy - was unexpected, and odd. Lacked the common flavor of a hearty gravy begun with a roux of flour and meat drippings. (Zoom in on attached photo, you can see the mealy and almost-grainy texture of the gravy.) Overall we weren't impressed. The mac n cheese being the best thing is not what you expect at a bbq place. Like I said, we wish the establishment well. But we wouldn't come back when in Johnson City. Final note, the hostess/server was genuinely warm and friendly. She was wearing multiple hats, running around, but was pleasant and engaging.

great service, attentive and great server!!! showed me how to redeem my points. Nate did a…read morewonderful job

good food and good service, the atmosphere was good and the ambiance was on point…read more Hdofiebfksifbksbdiwb

Everything was good. The service nice. The environment was cozy. I really enjoyed the experience…read more The only thing I would suggest that the food be brought out to the customer. I was a first time guest and I don't realize that I would have to go out the building to a side window. My food had been ready for about 12 minutes and I didn't realize because I was expecting it to come out to me or at least have my name called when it was ready. You order through a QR code.

I hadn't had Arlo's in 7 years just about, but during a business trip I was craving a good vegan…read moreburger. I had the pleasure of speaking with the owner prior to my arrival. He had given me new updates on what's changed to Arlo's. He told me that they are no longer a good truck and moved to the ghost kitchen set-up out of the Lovebirds bar. He told me to order via the website and pick up at a side window. He even told me to call him back if the food isn't good. I ensured him that his food was the bomb diggity so there would be no need for a follow-up call. Whew Chile, if you're ever craving a BBQ burger, don't pass up the sweet, spicy, messy, and fulfilling goodness of this burger. Pair it with the tots and you got yourself a delicious meal. Speaking of the tots they are perfectly seasoned with salt. Big, juicy, thick ass burger. So good that you'd be in a food coma if you finish every bite in one sitting. Luckily I couldn't subject myself to continuous bed rest, I saved some for later so that I can continue to savor the luscious goodness. Absolute best as always!